Wrench

ABSTRACT

An adjustable wrench comprises a wrench head which is provided with an opening for a nut or a bolt and is non-pivotably united with a tubular handle. Associated with this handle is a rod, which is axially displaceable therein and has one of its ends projecting into the opening for engaging a bolt head or a nut, and an external sleeve which is axially displaceable and lockable in different axial positions on the rear end of the tubular handle. To enable the wrench to work as a ratchet spanner, means are provided for releasable locking of the rod to the sleeve in the axial direction and for resiliently pressing the rod in the direction towards the wrench head when the locking is released.

Unite States Patent [191 Lind [ WRENCH [76] Inventor: Erik Lind, lvars Uddevagen 1, 590

80 Sondra Vi, Sweden 22 Filed: May 9,1973

21 App1.No.:358,47l

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS France 81/130 R [45] .lan.7,1975

.Cushman [57] ABSTRACT An adjustable wrench comprises a wrench head which is provided with an opening fora nut or a bolt and is non-pivotably united with a tubular handle. Associated with this handle is a rod, which is axially displaceable therein and has one of its ends projecting into the opening for engaging a bolt head] or a nut, and an external sleeve which is axially displaceable and lockable in different axial positions on the rear end of the tubular handle. To enable the wrench. to work as a ratchet spanner, means are provided for releasable locking of the rod to the sleeve in the axial direction and for resiliently pressing the rod in the direction towards the wrench head when the locking is released.

7 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures Patented Jan. 1975 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 V Q ///flmAA/AZ w; tax: m N? 12 mdI WRENCH It is known to provide a wrench with a tubular shaft or handle which projects from the wrench head and is located substantially in the same plane as the wrench head and is provided with means for adjusting, from the free end of the shaft, the gap between the jaws or the like of the wrench. In this known tool said adjustment means comprise a rod which is axially displaceable in the tubular shaft and has its one end adapted to project into an opening in the wrench head and its other end adapted to be actuated by a sleeve, which is provided on said shaft, in such a way that the rod may be axially displaced by displacing the sleeve with respect to the shaft.

The principal object of the invention is to make it possible to utilize such a wrench both as an ordinary invention is primarily characterized by the provision of 20 means for releasable locking of the rod to the sleeve in axial direction and for resilientlypressing the rod in the direction towards the wrench head when the locking is released.

When the wrench is to be used for rotating ordinary hexagonal nuts, or bolt heads, tubes or the like, the rod is pressed towards the wrench head when the locking of the rod is released. Also when the wrench is to be used for rotating so called in-six bolts, i.e. bolts having a hexagonal depression or recess in their heads, the rod is pressed towards the wrench head when the locking isreleased.

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and the annexed drawings, in which:-

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a wrench according to the invention, as seen from below;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the wrench according to FIG.

I FIG. 3 is a partial section through the wrench according to FIGS. 12 on the line III III in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross section on line IV lVin FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a modified wrench head;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of another modified wrench head which is intended for tubes and rods having a circular cross section;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a leaf spring clip which is intended to be secured to a wrench head;

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of a wrench head intended for so called in-six bolts.

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of an adjustable wrench having modified rod releasing means; and

FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view substantially on line In the different views the same or similar parts or members have been designated with the same reference character throughout.

The head 1 of the adjustable wrench according to the invention is provided with a handle or shaft 2 which projects from the wrench head substantially in the plane thereof and is provided with a central, longitudinal and through bore 19 in which a rod 3 is slidably arranged in such a manner that its one end projects into the opening 20 of the wrench head. The rod 3 is provided with a pin 21 which is perpendicular to the rod and projects into a longitudinal slot 22 in the shaft 2 for preventing the rod 3- from turning with respect to the shaft 2. The end of the pin which projects through the slot 22 is suitably providedwith a head 24.

The rear end of the shaft 2 is provided with a threaded portion 23, and an internally threaded sleeve is screwed on to said threaded en-d.

Near its centre the sleeve 6 is provided with a transverse recess 4 which reaches almost to the centre of the sleeve 6.

A block 5 is arranged in the recess 4 and is provided with lugs 11 which project laterally on both sides of the sleeve 6.

A plate 8 is arranged on the opposite side of the sleeve, substantially in the same transverse plane as the block 5. The ends of the plate which project beyond the circumference of the sleeve are provided with mutually parallel pins 9 which are slidably guided in lugs 10 projecting from the sleeve 6 and secured in the lugs 11 of the block 5. The plate or crossbar 8 is maintained in its normal,. manually inactuated position at a distance from the sleeve 6 by compression springs 12 encircling the pins 9.

The rear portion of the rod 3 which projects into the sleeve 6 behind the rear end of the shaft or handle 2 is provided with a circumferential recess 7 having a width which is a little larger than that of the block 5.

The rear end of the rod 3 is provided with a thinner prolongation 17 which has its rear end adapted to slidably project into a corresponding central recess or bore 18 in the rear end of the sleeve 6. A compression spring is provided between the rear end of the rod 3, which is shaped as an abutment l4, and a corresponding abutment 16 in the sleeve 6.

It has proved suitable to provide those sides 26 of the wrench head, which are to engage a nut or a bolt head, with radially inwards projecting ears or lugs 25, which are adapted to engage the top surface of a nut or a-bolt head and thus to prevent the wrench head from sliding down from the nut or the bolt head.

The adjustable wrench operates in the following manner:

Before applying the wrench, the sleeve 6 is rotated until the nut or the bolt head, which is to be tightened or loosend, can be inserted between the internal sides 26 of the wrench head and the end of the rod 3 which projects into the wrench head 1.

When applying the wrench, the head 1 is slid over the nut or the bolt head in such a manner that the projections 25 engage the top side of the :nut or the bolt head, and then the sleeve 6 is rotated until the fore end of the rod 3 firmly engages the nut or the bolt head, after which the handle 2 is swung for tightening or loosening the nut or the bolt head.

When the swinging or turning stroke has been carried out, the plate 8 is depressed towards the sleeve 6 and the handle or shaft 2 is swung back, the rod 3 then becoming axially displaced by the engagement of its fore end with the nut or the like, against the action of the spring 15, so that the fore end of the rod 3 can pass an edge of the nut or the like, which is presumed to be hexagonal. When the handle or shaft 2 has been swung backwards through 60, the plate 8 is released, whereby the block 5 again locks the rod 3 in the axial direction and the nut or the bolt head may be rotated anew.

Thus, the wrench serves both as an adjustable wrench and as a ratchet spanner.

The wrench head 1, the opening 20 of which is closed according to FIGS. 1 3, may also have a lateral opening 30, as is illustrated in FIG. 5, whichmay facilitate the applying of the wrench to a bolt head or the like (not shown).

FIG. 6 illustrates a further modified wrench head ac cording to the invention. In this embodiment the wrench is a tube wrench having an open wrench head comprising an arcuate portion 26(b) provided with serrations 31 on that side which faces the fore end of the rod 3 which is concave and also serrated as shown at 32.

The lugs 25 with which the sides 26 of the wrench head are provided according to FIGS. 1 3 may alternatively be provided on a separate leaf spring member 33 according to FIG. 7. This leaf spring member 33 has at least three and preferably no less than four 120 angles 34 and is adapted to be removably secured to a wrench head, e.g., according to FIG. 5, by spring force. The wrench according to the invention may also be designed for so called in-six bolts, i.e., bolts having their heads provided with a hexagonal cavity or recess which is to be engaged by a wrench or spanner. The head of such an adjustable wrench according to the invention is diagramatically illustrated in FIG. 8.

Instead of the opening 20 of the embodiments described above, the wrench head according to FIG. 8 has a laterally projecting edge 36 which is united (or integral) with the tubular shaft 2 and is intended to be brought into engagement with one side of thehexagonal cavity of the bolt head to be rotated. Also the axially displaceable rod 3 is provided with such a transverse edge 37 which cooperates with the edge 36 and is intended for engaging an opposite side surface of the hexagonal cavity of the in-six bolt head. The edge 37 may be secured to the rod 3 in any suitable manner, e.g., by a pin 38, or may be integral therewith.

When the rod 3 is released for permitting the wrench to be swung backwards, the edge 37 should, of course, be resiliently displaced towards the edge 36 to enable the edges 36, 37 to pass a corner of the hexagonal cavityin the bolt head. This is in agreement with the embodiments previously described, in which the rod 3 was also displaced to the right by the nut.

FIGS. 9 l illustrate modified means for releasing the rod 3. In the embodiment according to FIGS. 9 the plate or crossbar 8 of FIGS. 1 4 has been replaced by a push button and the lugs 10, ll of the sleeve 6 and the block 5 respectively have been dispensed with. Instead hereof the screws 9 pass through bores in the sleeve 6 proper and are engaged in threaded bores in the block 5. The push button 8a is guided by a ring 39, which is secured in a recess in the sleeve 6, and is biased by one single compression spring 12.

In this case the pin 21 is secured in the tubular shaft 2 and engages a longitudinal recess 22 in the rod 3. 40 designates a stop screw.

The embodiments described above and illustrated'in the annexed drawings are, of course, to be regarded merely as non-limiting examples and may as to their details be modified in several ways within the scope of the following claims. In particular new embodiments which are encompassed by the invention may be created by combing details from different ones of the disclosed embodiments.

I claim:

1. Adjustable wrench comprising a wrench head (1),

an opening in said wrench head, a tubular shaft (2) which is non-pivotable with respect to said wrench head and extends therefrom and is located substantially in the same plane as said wrench head, a rod (3), which is axially displaceable in said shaft and has one of its ends projecting into said opening in the wrench head (1), and a sleeve (6), which is axially displaceable and lockable in different axial positions on that end of the tubular shaft (2) which is remote from the wrench head (1), characterized by the provision of means for releasable locking of the rod (3) to the sleeve (6) in axial direction and for resiliently pressing the rod (3) in the direction towards the wrench head (1) when the locking is released.

2. Wrench according to claim 1, in which said means for releaseably locking the rod (3) to the sleeve (6) comprises a block which is provided in a transverse recess (4) in the sleeve and is adapted to engage a recess (7) in the rod (3) and is provided with means for manually disengaging said block from said recess (7).

3. Wrench according to claim 2, in which said means for disengaging said block (5) from the recess (7) in the rod (3) comprises a transverse plate (8) which is provided on the sleeve (6) on the opposite side thereof with respect to its recess (4) and projects laterally of the sleeve (6) on both sides thereof and has its two ends provided with pins (9) which slideably penetrate lugs (10) projecting from the sleeve (6) and are nonslideably secured to lugs (l l) projecting from the block (5), helical springs being provided around the pins between the plate (8) and the lugs (10) of the sleeve for pressing the plate (8) away from the sleeve.

4. Wrench according to claim 1, in which said means for resiliently pressing the rod (3) in the direction to wards the wrench head comprises a first abutment (14) on the rear portion of the rod (3), a second abutment which is provided on the sleeve (6) and a compression spring (15) which is provided between and engages said abutments.

5. Wrench according to claim 4, in which the rear portion (13) of the rod is provided with a thinner prolongation (l7 which is surrounded by the compression spring (15) and slideably penetrates into a corresponding guiding recess (18) in the rear portion of the sleeve (6).

6. Wrench according to claim 1, characterized by the provision of a leaf spring clip, having a contour which conforms to more than half of the outer circumference of the wrench head and is resiliently attachable thereto and is provided with lugs penetrating radially inwards laterally of the opening for abutting against an end surface of a nut or bolt head to be rotated by the wrench.

7. Adjustable wrench comprising a wrench head, a nut or bolt head engaging edge (36) in said wrench head, a tubular shaft (2) which is non-pivotable with respect to said'wrench head and extends therefrom, a rod (3), which is axially displaceable in said shaft and has one of its ends projecting beyond said edge of said wrench head, and a sleeve (6), which is axially displaceable and lockable in different axial positions on that end of the tubular shaft (2) which is remote from the wrench head (1 and means for releasable locking of the rod (3) to the sleeve (6) in axial direction and for resiliently pressing the rod (3) in the direction away from the wrench head I) when the locking is released. t t 

1. Adjustable wrench comprising a wrench head (1), an opening in said wrench head, a tubular shaft (2) which is non-pivotable with respect to said wrench head and extends therefrom and is located substantially in the same plane as said wrench head, a rod (3), which is axially displaceable in said shaft and has one of its ends projecting into said opening in the wrench head (1), and a sleeve (6), which is axially displaceable and lockable in different axial positions on that end of the tubular shaft (2) which is remote from the wrench head (1), characterized by the provision of means for releasable locking of the rod (3) to the sleeve (6) in axial direction and for resiliently pressing the rod (3) in the direction towards the wrench head (1) when the locking is released.
 2. Wrench according to claim 1, in which said means for releaseably locking the rod (3) to the sleeve (6) comprises a bLock which is provided in a transverse recess (4) in the sleeve and is adapted to engage a recess (7) in the rod (3) and is provided with means for manually disengaging said block from said recess (7).
 3. Wrench according to claim 2, in which said means for disengaging said block (5) from the recess (7) in the rod (3) comprises a transverse plate (8) which is provided on the sleeve (6) on the opposite side thereof with respect to its recess (4) and projects laterally of the sleeve (6) on both sides thereof and has its two ends provided with pins (9) which slideably penetrate lugs (10) projecting from the sleeve (6) and are non-slideably secured to lugs (11) projecting from the block (5), helical springs being provided around the pins between the plate (8) and the lugs (10) of the sleeve for pressing the plate (8) away from the sleeve.
 4. Wrench according to claim 1, in which said means for resiliently pressing the rod (3) in the direction towards the wrench head comprises a first abutment (14) on the rear portion of the rod (3), a second abutment which is provided on the sleeve (6) and a compression spring (15) which is provided between and engages said abutments.
 5. Wrench according to claim 4, in which the rear portion (13) of the rod is provided with a thinner prolongation (17) which is surrounded by the compression spring (15) and slideably penetrates into a corresponding guiding recess (18) in the rear portion of the sleeve (6).
 6. Wrench according to claim 1, characterized by the provision of a leaf spring clip, having a contour which conforms to more than half of the outer circumference of the wrench head and is resiliently attachable thereto and is provided with lugs penetrating radially inwards laterally of the opening for abutting against an end surface of a nut or bolt head to be rotated by the wrench.
 7. Adjustable wrench comprising a wrench head, a nut or bolt head engaging edge (36) in said wrench head, a tubular shaft (2) which is non-pivotable with respect to said wrench head and extends therefrom, a rod (3), which is axially displaceable in said shaft and has one of its ends projecting beyond said edge of said wrench head, and a sleeve (6), which is axially displaceable and lockable in different axial positions on that end of the tubular shaft (2) which is remote from the wrench head (1), and means for releasable locking of the rod (3) to the sleeve (6) in axial direction and for resiliently pressing the rod (3) in the direction away from the wrench head (1) when the locking is released. 